Plotlogs
Clean Slate Sr Evan 250427
In the world where debts could be as bizarre as fetching the heart of a mechanical beast, Lark and her eclectic group of friends, including a transformative panda named Siofra, her pragmatic boyfriend Evan, and the resourceful but out-of-place Seamus, ventured into an abandoned mansion under the cloak of night. Their mission was to retrieve an unspecified object for a cold, blue-eyed man in exchange for clearing Lark's debts.
Upon arrival, Lark, led by a sense of urgency and the looming shadows of her debts, guided her group through the mansion’s overgrown exterior. There, they encountered a forgotten world marked by decay and a stifling sensation that hinted at the unnatural. Upon entering the mansion, they were met with an eerie pulsing that seemed to beckon them deeper into its bowels.
Determined, they descended into the depths of the mansion, negotiating traps and the deteriorated architecture until they discovered a massive workshop. It was here they encountered the heart of their quest: a monstrous machine, crudely human in form but bound by chains, its torso holding the pulsing source they sought.
Amidst this encounter, the group showcased their bravery and quick thinking. Siofra, with her extraordinary physical abilities, engaged the beast directly, working to extract its mechanical heart. Lark and Seamus provided vital support, distracting the automaton and attempting to neutralize its threats, despite the dire implications of their friend's gambit.
The critical moment arrived when Siofra, despite the risk of severe injury, successfully extracted the core, rendering the colossus inert. Their mission accomplished but not without cost; they emerged from the darkness, weary but victorious, holding the very symbol of Lark's liberation.
As they exited the mansion, they were greeted by the once menacing figure who confirmed the fulfillment of their agreement. The debt was cleared, leaving Lark free from the oppressive weight that had hounded her. Gratitude and a sense of camaraderie filled the air as Lark reassured her friends of her appreciation, with a particular focus on finding a peculiar reward for Siofra.
This tale of odd companionship, confronting the remnants of the past, and the quest for redemption highlights the lengths individuals will go for those they care about. In the end, amidst the peculiarities of their journey and the oddities encompassing their quest, they found solace in their shared triumph over adversity.
(Clean Slate(SREvan):SREvan)
[Sat Apr 26 2025]
At Overgrown courtyard dominated by a broken down mansion
In front of the entrance to this courtyard lies a long, forgotten mansion. The paint already peeling in noticeable places. Though, surprisingly the doors to the mansion remain perfectly in tact. The rest of the overgrown courtyard is exactly what one would expect to see from a mansion courtyard that's been left to rot. The cobblestone path has been cracked and weathered in places. The large, ornate fountains are filled with stagnant water. The once lovely and lush garden has been left in a decayed state, plants, ferns and other flora all wilted and dead.
It is after dusk, about 61F(16C) degrees, There is a new moon.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) arrives in an amble down the road. A constant, high-speed sprint that jumbles the mass of fur and little ears atop her head- having crawled out of a shattered glass pain somewhere abouts down the street from the Nightmare.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) is going to shift for a moment so the phone stops buzzing inside her fur.
Lark and Evan path straight into this sad, sad looking area where all the plants are dead. Lark eyes the surroundings, looking around for some familiar faces first before telling Evan. "God this is depressing, let's never let our apartment get this messy..."
Evan snorts at Lark, stepping in time with her as the two path into the place. "Yeah, fair enough," Evan mentions, gesturing around the area with an almost look of disgust.
SREvan says "color "
For all of the weight lost in her fragile, spine-y self Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) appears to have put on some furry weight. A good sixty or so pounds of it. She sniffs around the shrubs, nails leaving dagger like trails in the dirt and concrete alike.
Lark hears and whine and whirls over, spotting Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), and then Seamus thereafter. She waves, bounding over. "OH hey guys!! Thanks for showing up." She rubs the back of her head and laughs. "This is, uh, kinda all my fault but you're really doing me a solid so I appreciate you all!"
*Weh*.
A bob of Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s head like the wise teacher as she stops sniffing at dead shrubs.
"I wouldn't eat any of that if I were you," Lark cautions, wisely. "Not bamboo." So smart.
Seamus adjusts his molle vest and looks at his knives before nodding. "I am ready. I even have poison. if we need it."
Lark nods at Seamus. "Excellent."
The *CLACK* of Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s jaws, this time, clatters and pierce like a gunshot- the maw and slight nip of return to Lark's comment bitterly sentience of this comment.
The *CLACK* of Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s jaws, this time, clatters and pierce like a gunshot- the maw and slight nip of return to Lark's comment bitterly sentient of this fact.*
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), with a white side-eye, sniffles at a shrub to double check.
Lark sighs and shakes her head behind the panda's back.
Tucked into a forest, deep in the outskirts of Boston lies this courtyard. Looming over it in a sad way, lies a rickety mansion. One that's been entirely forgotten and left to the elements. Vines grow along the front in unkempt patterns, broken windows line the top, shattered glass spilling dangerously near the front door.
As the members of this expedition arrive in their various different ways, they'd get a feeling that they're not entirely alone.
"Hello," a voice calls from somewhere in the courtyard. And soon that voice makes himself known - stepping from his lean on the front wall of the mansion, a rather nicely dressed man crunches his away across the courtyard - not caring about the broken glass or the dead leaves that he destroys. "Miss Hall," the man says, staring directly at Lark with his cold, bright blue eyes. "You remember me, yes? We had a little chat one night. You were pretending to be Miss Fettes, if I recall correctly?" The man steps forward, stopping directly in front of the group - hands clasped behind his back, straight backed and perfect posture.
There's a sour look that crosses Lark's face as she sees the owner of the voice step into view. "Yes, I remember," she replies, a little sullen. "Well no more of that nonsense, and speaking of, the whole debts clear after this, right?" she checks, her face tense.
Evan steps a little close to Lark, resting a hand on her shoulder protectively, but letting her do the talking.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) rises to mirror his posture, all 6 feet of panda- claws clasped in front of herself like she's the extra on a hip-hop album cover.
Seamus looks lost but what else is new? He is here for comedic relief and hunting support but he does nod firmly at idea that all debts are paid after this
The panda barely even has this nameless man reacting, though he does a shift his eyes over that way, towards Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) and there's a twitch in his features, a smile of amusement breaking the earlier mask he wore. It's gone in a flash, and he's back entirely on Lark. "I talked to Mr. Fitz," the man explains to her. "If, and only if you succeed will all of your debts be cleared. There's.. something in this house, you see. An old scientist, an inventory, really. He was an interesting type. Paranoid, assumed everyone was out to get his latest, and greatest invention, you see?" Sweeping a hand out, he gestures grandly at the run down space. "Unfortunately, the poor soul was right. There were plenty of people out to get him. When you attempt what he attempted, you're going to make a few enemies - somewhere along the way." A step closer, leaning slightly in towards Lark, "Regardless, Mr. Fitz has assured him that everything you have, all your debts, will be paid upon retrieval of this object. You're done, you won't be bothered anymore. No more swords dangling over your head."
Lark looks both wary and relieved. She crosses her arms with the ragtag group consisting of an old guy, her boyfriend, and a giant panda behind her. "Do we know what kind of something we're looking for?" she asks, still cautious. She eyes the man, there clearly being no love lost here.
Seamus nods along, glancing at his phone as they listen along and mutters, "Right steal the shit, pay off Fritz, no more sword of Damocles. Got it."
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s eyes scan the decrepit space with dot-dot-dot of sentience, seemingly. An animal's stare does not oft warrant the gift of an intelligence, and the black and white stretch of fur is not any different.
It is an odd group, but at least Lark isn't alone. It's nice to have friends who can help when you, through basically no fault of your own, get yourself into a debt. Lark's more than likely not to blame, but, what can you do about it?
"Yes," the man replies, leaning away from her now - giving her back that space. "You," he points to Lark, and then sweeps the point to the rest of the ragtag group of friends, Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), Seamus and SREvan in turn. "Are going to find out where the power source is being kept, and then, you're going to come back here, and return it to me. Simple enough?" The last question seems arrogant, almost rude in the way he says it, like he's expecting all of them to fail miserably and come back with nothing at all. "I have no idea what it looks like, I'll be honest. But.. it should be somewhat easy to figure out, once you've located it, as far as I'm aware."
Lark huffs out in annoyance. "Well at least you're admitting you have no clue what it looks like," her jaw tenses and then she takes a step back, nodding to Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), Seamus, and Evan. "We ready? Any questions for this loan shark lackey?" she snipes.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) sighs glances at Lark in a dismissive fashion, setting her two front paws back on the ground and shaking out her fur.
Evan leaves his hand on Lark's shoulder as he stares at the man, but ultimately shakes his head. "I'm ready," Evan tells Lark carefully.
Seamus slides his hunting knife into his belt sheath and puts on some strawberry chapstick. "Let's rock and roll monster truckers."
Lark nods to the others and starts taking a few steps down that cobblestone path, with a dagger in her hand. For safekeeping. Duh. The cobblestones are loose, and badly maintained, but she keeps on in those fashionable ballet flats.
"Then, away you go," The man tells them - stepping away, shoes crunching dead leaves and shrubs as he walks off - waiting somewhere in the Courtyard. "I'll just be here," the man calls. "Bring it back here." And then he goes silent, leaving the ragtag group to figure it all out for themselves.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) ambles forward and after, starting at first in a strange slow-motion before her gait spikes and she gains traction- kicking up shrapnel that her claws chew through underneath.
Evan follows Lark carefully, leading her lead - and following along with her path.
Seamus needs someone to grab him on the path since he isn't special enough but assuming someone grabs him he follows.
Lark makes a busting down the door motion towards Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda).
Fortunately, the cobblestones don't seem trapped in any sort of way. No loose stones, no landmines, nothing of that sort to harm the group as they make their way to the front door of the mansion. The door seems thick, and reinforced and it does not seem to be bust openable. Besides, for all they know there was a trap. Nobody had thought to even ask anything about traps or anything of that. Busting open a door is probably not the smartest decision, but it's there, should they wish it.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) sighs haggardly, patting over to the double doors with a few testing scratches.
"I guess we could try turning the doorknob?" Lark suggests, logical hindsight being 20/20.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) sets her nose against the crack in the door and begins to sniff around.
"Yes try to see if it is unlocked first and then if it isn't I can try to pick it, and finally Panda Koolaid Man's the thing," Seamus says
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) settles herself against the door, and then.. Ambles off to the side. Over to the wall. With a powerful *Weh!* She does a brief loop and sprints full speed into the wall, clawing and chewing.
Lark hops back as she realizes that Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) is about to do panda things, trying to hide behind Seamus and Evan. "Make way!!"
"I'll do it," Evan volunteers. "Let me," Evan tells the group, stepping forward now. He takes the doorknob, fiddling with it - nope, there's no luck there. And soon someone so Evan leaps sideways out of the way.
"I'll do it," Evan volunteers. "Let me," Evan tells the group, stepping forward now. He takes the doorknob, fiddling with it - nope, there's no luck there. And soon Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) so Evan leaps sideways out of the way.
"Well there goes subtly," Seamus muses putting his lock picks back and just watching the ensuing chaos.
As Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) crashes into the door there's a looud *CRACK*. Something breaks, whether it's Siofra or the doorframe or the wall, it's hard to tell immediately. It's a god damn sturdy door, that's for sure, because the door hasn't fall-
CREEEEEEK the door just suddenly slams backward - falling off its hinges and a loud thud resonates through the air.
Almost instantly, there's a sound a *CLICK* as something goes off.
Nobody asked about traps.
Evan has gotten to his feet now, and moves to stand in the doorway, acting like he's the one who solved the problem - cocky little shit. It's unfortunate for him because a loud WOOOSH and something flies through the air, directly hitting Evan in the neck, and chest - darts.
"Should we have checked for traps?" Lark asks, about ten minutes too late. But the *CRACK* noise comes right at the end of her words and there's a look of obvious relief when the door gives way. She screams as Evan gets hit with the darts, springing forward to try to catch him before he hits the ground. "Noooooooo!"
Evan stands proudly in the doorway, "See? I could-"
Small, tiny sounds of something hitting flesh and Evan drops, fortunately being caught by Lark before his pretty head gets damaged. "Ow," Evan mutters, and he already seems tired, eyes drooping. "Tired.." Evan slurs.
"Probably but that is the Rogue's job," Seamus says citing the deep lore. "Oh boy. Well.... does anyone know anything about poisons? Probably just a sleeping poison."
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) reels back, stunned and sneezing from having her momentum halted absolutely. Mystical white and black bear or not, coming to a complete stop hurts. With the senses return, flushed of dust and fumes, she gives a searching glance back to the group to see a man down.
Lark slaps Evan gently on the cheeks, trying to keep him away. "Hey! Hey! No sleeping!" she calls out. The idea of poisons strikes a look of horror on her face. "Does anyone know anything about poisons?!" She looks between Seamus and Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), in panic. "Aren't we like supposed to... make them throw up or eat ashes or something?!"
Lark is trying to keep Evan AWAKE.
Evan blinks at the slapping, but just murmurs something about being tired and 'going to take a nap right here on the comfy ground'.
Seamus pulls out his phone and takes a picture before sending it somewhere before putting it away, "I mean if it is just a paralyzing poison he can probably sleep it off. Anyone have the dart?"
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) sniffles indignantly for some reason, then, with a shake and sass of her rump, heads inside.
Lark pulls one of the darts off of Evan, offering it to Seamus. "You're older and wiser, what is it?"
Lark pulls something out of her bag: a tragic 8 ball. She shakes it, asking: "Is Evan going to die?!"
Lark screams!
Seamus shakes his head at the poison, "We'll collect him on our way back home. Come on Lark, in and out and don't listen to the 8-Ball. It has only been right like... twice."
Lark nods, letting Evan down gently, making sure to pluck out those darts so he can sleep well. She sighs and puts the 8-ball away, gesturing for Seamus to come through the doorway with her. "I'm suing Malcolm over these balls," she decides, stepping her way through the threshold.
As the group now enters the house, with one less member to their party they'd find the area in a similar disarray to the outside. A staircase in the middle of the room has fallen apart, not allowing much access to the upper floors. Off to either side is a closed door, for different rooms.
Boxes are packed and stacked around the middle of the black and white marble floor. Though, they seem specifically pushed off to one side - near the northeast section of the foyer.
There's a shift now, almost like a slow, low pulsing that fills the house - the power source they're looking for. It's dark inside, the only light being from what trickles in through broken windows, and the now broken door.
PULSE.
Lark looks around, carefully, a bit more cautious now that her boyfriend is passed out in the other room. "Do you feel that?" she asks. "Should we look through these boxes over here," she points to the northeast. "Or keep going?"
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s fur stands on end, bristling and hackles raised. A wild eyed moment passes, the creature seemingly dead set on creating a corpse to fill its teeth.
But tentatively, finding no immediate threat, Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) sniffs around a few boxes- slapping them with a sidewinder paw strikes, scratching open the corners.
"I think we should keep going," Seamus realizes they he is the only one who can actually talk with Lark and then adds by way of explanation, "Go all the way in and work our way back out."
"That's what she said," Lark can't help but add before giving a more serious nod. "Okay. Are you any good at checking to see if either of these doors are boobytrapped? If so, maybe we try the one on the right to the east first?"
PULSE.
That light comes briefly again, spreading under the floor. Maybe.. wiring? Maybe pipes? It looks like it leads from a north-east corner of the foyer, but it's hard to discern. That light fills the room briefly, before fading away again.
If anyone is looking, for checking the floor - they might be able to spot little rises in the floor as that light spreads throughout the flooring. The floor isn't entirely level in certain places.
"I am told it was more of a breathy moan but I get your point," Seamus agrees seriously with Lark. "I'll take a look," Seamus adds before taking his knife to start gently prying around the gaps in the door looking for trip wires.""
As Seamus prods around the where the door has been left, destroyed and discarded by a strong panda, he'd find no trip wires, nothing directly in front of the door - or surrounding areas.
Lark follows that pulsing, frowning. She glances to that pile of boxes. "Panda, can you get rid of those? See if something's behind it?" She steps around the room carefully, trying to look for any strangeness.
Seamus turns the handle of the door and mimes turning the door handle and walks in, "All safe."
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) is slapping around the boxes with precocious steps, a little wide-legged as she over scrutinizes the small bumps of elevation on the wood underneath.
As the panda moves some of the boxes, it would uncover just the briefest - difference in the flooring. There's what looks to be a few scrape marks over a very specific tile - like something is lifted up here.
Seamus notices the scrape marks and asks Lark, "Those are sus as fuck as you kids say. Should we pry it up?"
Seamus must say no more. Setting her claws against the ground- somewhere abouts the corner, Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) begins to dig. 10/12 digits peeling at the wound, prying at the wood with animal habit.
Lark nods at Seamus and peers over as Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) begins to pry at the flooring. "I don't see why not. Sus is good for us, at least right now, right Tragic 8 Ball?" She digs it out of her tote bag again, giving it a shake.
Lark tells the 8-ball: "Fuck you, you're fired."
Seamus says "The eight ball is never wrong"
PULSE.
There it goes again - that eerie, familiar pulse that courses through the mansion like veins running through a person.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s claws are tough, and very bear-y and soon she's lifting a section, a corner and a low, grinding sound begins - a trapdoor becoming more visible - a passage beneath it.
Lark peeks over Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) to see the trapdoor. "Seamus, will you check this thing for traps before we try it? Seems like a basement is a good place to hide shit."
To everyone's disappointment, Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) takes a break and sits down with a pant with still a little floorboard to go. Work is tiring, and her stomach is empty of things to metabolize. A compound of factors hit the creature like the smell of gasoline in a locked cellar, and to her rump she goes.
Seamus nods to Lark and starts checking for traps
Lark reaches over to give Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) a shoulder pat.
Seamus holds very still and backs his hand out gently, "Well this has been trapped for sure." He squints at the panda then back to the trap, "Any thoughts?"
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) nods whilst panting with Lark's assessment of the solution
"We can try but I need a picture of you pulling the rope, for reasons," Seamus says with a smile.
There's one problem, Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) doesn't appear to have any rope on her.
There's a bunch of boxes scattered around the room, maybe there's rope in one of them?
"Alright let's just see if there's anything around," Lark says, turning her head and spying a nearby box.
Seamus starts looking for additional rope but it is very likely Seamus packed some, just didn't bring a rope item.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) looks at the slapped and scratched cubes, and levels the power of her agency against them- nose first.
As Lark opens up the first box, she'd get hit by dust and the scent of mildew and rust, though around her, near one of the other boxes is a stench of decay and death.
Inside the box are plenty of things, metal, gears, sheet of iron, bronze and a plenty of other, and tucked into the very bottom - in a coil is some rope. How handy!
Lark sneezes, making a face at the smell and grabs the coil of rope, tossing it to Seamus. "Catch old man!"
looks up to the ceiling, and, approaching a wall, attempts to climb. She gets a leg pressed forward and pushing before it simply scratches down. Rather like a cat stuck in the tub, to the danger of a tub. The arboreal loss is felt deeply in Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s whimper, claws too sharp to ascend.
Seamus catches the rope and ties it up to how it is supposed to go before throwing the end back to Lark. "Say Cheese. Hi Mal. Whateverzl"
Lark poses for Seamus before tugging on the rope, hard.
Seamus takes the photo, saving it for more fancy chat.
As Lark pulls the rope that's attached to the trapdoor - there's a loud whine. The hinges whining in protest.
CREEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK.
Lark continues, pulling, pulling, and pulling on that rope for what seems to be a while. Until, eventually, Lark would feel the slack on the rope, the door comes free with one more groan of protest before clattering away, and trailing behind on what might be a small tripwire, are some devices: which look very much like C4, or some other explosive.
Lark lets go of the rope, tossing it to the side, no doubt eliciting a little cloud of dust. She peers over at what's revealed and curses. "Well fuck. Uh... does anyone know how to handle that? Or should we make that blow from afar?"
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) looks at the little pink putty dumbfounded. Within her list of tools is not explosive bubble gum, and thus, thoughts are slow as to the contraption sat beyond. She stands on her hind legs at a distance to peer over, then slowly shakes her head.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) patters over to the eastern door, bares her claws forward- and then tentatively tries to open the door between her fingers and thumb.
Lark adds hastily. "Maybe, uh, not the second option... You're right, whoever you are-"
"I'd usually just call bomb squad," Seamus says with a frown and then says, "We could shoot it."
It seems like the trap has been relatively disarmed, and anyone who would look down to the big hole that Lark just created by pulling off the door to a trapdoor, would notice a -
PULSE! There's that pulse again, most obvious, more noticeable. It briefly reveals a steel ladder that leads down into a dark, dark corridor below.
The reveal of that pulse reveals that steel ladder. Lark peers down the hatch hole and shrugs, beginning to angle herself to climb down. "Alright I guess I'll go first," she says, squinting into the darkness below.
Seamus nods and then makes to follow Lark before asking Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), "Unless you want me to take up the rear?"
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) turns around, braced for a bright pink boom. This, of course, doesn't occur, but she was prepared for it. Straightening her back- shrinking in stature- yet legs elongating a fleshformed circus act returns- no-no parts 'modestly' covered in glowing red spines. Her arms join to cover herself with a flat sigh, and onward she waggles her hand.
Lark calls out from climbing the ladder. "Phrasing!"
Siofra says "Mmm. I'll not climb down as a Panda. I'll g'wan second if it suits ye'."
Down, down and down they go. The only sound is the dull thump of shoes hitting the cold metal of the ladder.
The further they go, the stuffier it gets, and there's an almost oppressive feeling down here. The bottom of the ladder is pitchblack, for those who can't see in the dark, and when they hit the bottom there's a small hallway - carved out of the stone - and beyond is a massive room.
Here the ragtag group arrives into a massive room that looks to be a workshop of some sort.
Dead set in the middle of the room, is a massive creature - and right in the middle of the dark room is that familiar but ominous pulse.
Siofra regards the depths' silent guardian like spinach on the lunch table, lip curled. She's hunched in an introvert's posture down here, her own red muted light fighting and losing to the blue beyond. "That'un will feck me up. I don't reckon we could all climb faster than it could grab- I mean.. Mayhap it's just a statue."
"Well do you see the battery thing we are looking for? This is the workshop so we can grab it and get out of here? I am starting to get the creeps," Seamus says before adding to Siofra, "Beth is babysitting Cadence."
Siofra points to the blue object in the center of the room. "Mhm."
Lark looks around, gawks really, whispering to Seamus and Siofra. "Oh my god, it's like a sex dungeon, with scien-" she stops as she sees that massive creature. "Uhhhh, guys??"
"Well it's chained so far, Lark." Siofra explains with a tightening of her spines around her. One, like a vein coming out of her wrist, whips delicately towards the creature. "Just like.. I'm poxy right now, alright? Might that I could take it but like.. Ehh..."
Siofra says, flatly, "Speak of me to my sons and tell them I saw the sunrise."
Lark carefully starts to creep towards that creature, trying to look around for anything of note that may stand out, other than the fact that this gigantic creature is here.
The large machine might be alive, or it might not be, it's really hard to tell. This large machine looks to have been designed by someone doing some insane experiments. It's an amalgamation of parts. It's broad, and brutal looking, the form crudely humanoid and welded together from iron, brass, and human bones. The torso is a patchwork of welded plates, and sinew-like tubing that pulses with a sickly pale green light - directly set in the center, covered by a glass cage is what looks to be the heart, or the core of the thing. The beast has thick arms that end in rusted claws, and it moves with a surprising quickness for the bulk of it.
Soon though, there's a groan from the beast - a shifting. A new source of light is added to that blue pulsing and it comes in the form of two blue dots that look to be about where the creature rests.
It's head goes up - scanning, searching. And it locks onto the three intruders.
Seamus readies his knife, just in case and then says, "Lark.... you are the track star.... gonna need you to get what you came here for before we have a problem."
Lark freezes. The kind of freeze that signals 'Oh shit!'. Her head swivels and nods at Seamus. "But like what... am I grabbing?" she asks, "Because it looks like that heart might be... what's batterying this?"
As the group talks the machine grows angerier, it rattles against its chains, pulling at them. Again, there's a loud, loud creak - the chains barely able to hold the massive automation in front of them.
*WEH-EH-EH-EH-E-H-EH-* Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) bleats back, hackles raised in a snarl as she steps forward. The slow, languid heartrate in her chest beating like a kick drum and speeding up. The tempo dilates her pupils into three black saucers. The demonic panda pads forward, at first slowly, and then charging.
Lark scrambles to grab her bow from her tote bag, notching an arrow in case of emergency. An emergency that might be imminent?
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) charges forward at the beast with almost zero hesitation, which is smart, but also not smart. It might anger the creature, if it actually had emotions. It's head snaps towards the panda, blue eyes locking onto the incoming target. It's slow, fortunately, and it is chained down. Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) leaps, and jumps getting onto one of the legs, where she'll have to deal with the iron, brass and human bone.
Seamus slips his knife away and grabs his bow too, following Lark's lead, preparing a hunting arrow if need be.
Lark aims for the creature, for an eye, if she can, and loosens an arrow at it.
It might be a little like a viscous badger caught on an elephant, Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) making insane, distressing screeching noises as she bites into metal and death shakes with her neck- the force of her bones barely contained within the fur that houses them. The ripples of muscle send waves through her body, and that motions bleats back into feedback loop of her growls.
The creature pulls, twists and then rips a chain off the wall. A loud, loud crunch as it completely pulls the socket out of the wall - freeing one very deadly arm. It swipes at Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), slowly with the rusted claw of its hand.
Lark's arrow hits metal, unfortunately clattering harmlessly away to the ground.
Seamus takes after Lark and starts to shoot at the creatures' eyes as well.
Seeing how useless the arrow is, Lark shrugs, grabs her sword and rushes the automaton after Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), brandishing it with a growl. "GAHHHH!"
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) watches the hand come out of the corner of her eye like a dog that's got a toy it's not willing to share. Rather than brace, she scrambles tooth and nail up the panels and begins to claw at the housing for its heart.
That clawed hand misses Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) by the little scruff of her tail, just barely hitting her. Lark and Seamus are a good distraction, apparently - because the eyes of the machine shift from Lark to Seamus in a threatening way. It pulls at it's other arm, the chains holding it, just briefly. This seems like a fight that should be ended quick, otherwise there might be more problems.
Seamus's arrow, unfortunately doesn't do much, like Lark's. It ricochets harmlessly off the metal that protects its form.
As Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) beings to claw at the housing, she'd find this part is less defended. It's surrounded by a glass cage, not metal. It's easy to break.
Lark continues to try to distract the creature while Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) aims for the heart: for the very precious battery that means freedom and more for Lark
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s swats the glass like a cat toy as her white, fluffy tail gets smacked by a automaton's crane arm, probably showering herself in glass. But alas- even if she could get within, she's a damned panda.
But she's MORE as well! Six red ribbons shooting out from her form, the sharp pincers wedge into the metal, and with a huff and a mewling cringe, she tries to shunt herself through the glass and to the blue glow!
Glass rains down as it cracks, and then finally breaks, and Siofra begins to squeeze herself inside the housing. The heartbeat of the machine beating a sickly blue, pulsing. She'd have to pry it out of it's wiring, hoping she doesn't manage to break it. The acrobatics work though, and she manages to get to that blue glow.
It seems like whoever designed this machine, didn't think too hard on the safety protocols, because Lark is the focus - not the creature that's trying to shove it's way to the heart. A large hand comes slamming at Lark, missing, once again by the barest inches - she might even feel the wind of it blow across her face.
Seamus in the back provides an added distraction, arrows hitting against it - and one manages to embed itself in its eye - that blue light splitting around the arrowshaft.
Lark lets out a screech as she's almost hit, but not quite. It only seems to make her madder, as she sees someone crawling to get the wiring. She charges again, that sword swinging with a growl like the stubborn young demigod she is. Hard heads, these ones.
Lark lets out a screech as she's almost hit, but not quite. It only seems to make her madder, as she sees her friend crawling to get the wiring. She charges again, that sword swinging with a growl like the stubborn young demigod she is. Hard heads, these ones.
Sickened, robbed of her knightly gifts, and exhausted as she suffers the low of her biokinetic high, Siofra wrenches both hands alongside the housing of the big blue- making a little color purple of scattered light between her and it. It's enough energy to hold one, and and as Siofra gasps and yanks at her arm, the problem of her new strength becomes known.
But the Lead Keeper tries, because the workday doesn't end until you've done your work- and luck's sake, it's a fecking Saturday. With a whimper, and a brace of pain, all six spines curl out the housing from the inside and yank with all of her tiny force.
Whatever Siofra does, works. There's a crackle of blue energy that begins to leak out, the machine realizing too late what's going on.
CRANNKKKKK, GROAN. The thing beats, pulses getting faster, more determined.
Lark's distraction isn't working, the creature completely shifts, completely ignores Lark and brings a hand to it's chest, like it's about to slam and pound whatever it is that's tugging at it's heart.
POP!
The heart comes out, and the machine shuts down, inches from crushing Siofra inside. Despite it all though, she's tired. She pulls, tugs, and then finally falls from the machine - a scraping herself along one of those rusty claws as she tumbles to the floor - heart in her hands.
Lark rushes over to Siofra. "FUCK YEAH!!!" She yells, covered with sweat.
Using her spines and fashionable, extending veins as tension cables has rather fucked Siofra up. Heart cradled and broken on the ground in a nude, monstrous heap, she pries her hands off the side of the big blue and allows the object to roll (or perhaps simply fall) along the ground. "Ehhh... F-fair play.."
Lark looks to Siofra first, crouching down. "You alright?? Fuck, I can't find you virgins, but I swear to god, I'm gonna throw so many happy meals at you for that."
The room goes dull, that eerie feeling fades - all is calm. The heart is collected and the machine beat - with relatively no big injures.
"Nouught even onnnne?" Siofra grumbles, slapping a hand to the concrete and shivering as the small movement of setting herself up bends an overextended ribbon o'red.
Lark scoops up the heart, carefully, cradling it against her body. "Alright you two, let's go! Back up and out!"
And out the trio goes, back up the ladder, past the foyer, and into that overgrown garden, where Evan still lies asleep.
Lark looks around for the original guy, trotting over with the heart clutched to her chest. "We got it, asshole!"
"Ah," a voice calls as soon as Lark yells for him. Maybe his name is asshole, or maybe he's been called it enough, regardless he steps over and close to Lark - inspecting it. "I knew you'd do it," the man replies coldly, reaching out a gloved hand to touch the heart. "Did you have any troubles?"
Siofra is behind. Somewhere abouts the top of the ladder, it was time to return to panda. Panda is the one with all of the tricks- though it did not come before a shriek as her hyperextended extra muscles were lengthened out into a panda's body.
Evan stirs from his slumber, eyes glossy a bit and he's dazed, "Wha-" Evan says, sitting up a bit as Lark yells.
"My boyfriend might be dead so you better have a good insurance," Lark tells the man.
Seamus lingers back with Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) and just hangs out, panting as he catches his breath from the fight. "He's not dead yet!"
Lark gasps, shoving the heart at the man and running to hug Evan. "You're alive!"
The man takes the heart that was shoved at him with a smirk, glancing towards SREvan and Lark, and the rest. "Miss Hall?" The man calls out, delicately holding onto the heart.
Lark turns back to the man. "Yes?"
Evan blinks again, rubbing at his eyes. "Yeah, I'm alive.." Evan mutters, though shuts up when the man addresses Lark.
"I'll be sure to tell Mr. Fitz that your debt is repaid," the man says smoothly, taking a step back. "You're done. You're free. This is it." Another step back. "Enjoy the rest of your life, Miss Hall." And with that, the man heads off, disappearing into the night.
Lark lets out a sigh of relief, hugging Evan again and telling Seamus and Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda). "Thank you!" To Seamus, she asks: "Can you help find a virgin for Panda?"
Seamus cheers silently when the debts are paid then turns back to Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), "What do you need a virgin for? But sure."
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s teeth *CHOMP*. Nothing good, probably.
Upon arrival, Lark, led by a sense of urgency and the looming shadows of her debts, guided her group through the mansion’s overgrown exterior. There, they encountered a forgotten world marked by decay and a stifling sensation that hinted at the unnatural. Upon entering the mansion, they were met with an eerie pulsing that seemed to beckon them deeper into its bowels.
Determined, they descended into the depths of the mansion, negotiating traps and the deteriorated architecture until they discovered a massive workshop. It was here they encountered the heart of their quest: a monstrous machine, crudely human in form but bound by chains, its torso holding the pulsing source they sought.
Amidst this encounter, the group showcased their bravery and quick thinking. Siofra, with her extraordinary physical abilities, engaged the beast directly, working to extract its mechanical heart. Lark and Seamus provided vital support, distracting the automaton and attempting to neutralize its threats, despite the dire implications of their friend's gambit.
The critical moment arrived when Siofra, despite the risk of severe injury, successfully extracted the core, rendering the colossus inert. Their mission accomplished but not without cost; they emerged from the darkness, weary but victorious, holding the very symbol of Lark's liberation.
As they exited the mansion, they were greeted by the once menacing figure who confirmed the fulfillment of their agreement. The debt was cleared, leaving Lark free from the oppressive weight that had hounded her. Gratitude and a sense of camaraderie filled the air as Lark reassured her friends of her appreciation, with a particular focus on finding a peculiar reward for Siofra.
This tale of odd companionship, confronting the remnants of the past, and the quest for redemption highlights the lengths individuals will go for those they care about. In the end, amidst the peculiarities of their journey and the oddities encompassing their quest, they found solace in their shared triumph over adversity.
(Clean Slate(SREvan):SREvan)
[Sat Apr 26 2025]
At Overgrown courtyard dominated by a broken down mansion
In front of the entrance to this courtyard lies a long, forgotten mansion. The paint already peeling in noticeable places. Though, surprisingly the doors to the mansion remain perfectly in tact. The rest of the overgrown courtyard is exactly what one would expect to see from a mansion courtyard that's been left to rot. The cobblestone path has been cracked and weathered in places. The large, ornate fountains are filled with stagnant water. The once lovely and lush garden has been left in a decayed state, plants, ferns and other flora all wilted and dead.
It is after dusk, about 61F(16C) degrees, There is a new moon.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) arrives in an amble down the road. A constant, high-speed sprint that jumbles the mass of fur and little ears atop her head- having crawled out of a shattered glass pain somewhere abouts down the street from the Nightmare.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) is going to shift for a moment so the phone stops buzzing inside her fur.
Lark and Evan path straight into this sad, sad looking area where all the plants are dead. Lark eyes the surroundings, looking around for some familiar faces first before telling Evan. "God this is depressing, let's never let our apartment get this messy..."
Evan snorts at Lark, stepping in time with her as the two path into the place. "Yeah, fair enough," Evan mentions, gesturing around the area with an almost look of disgust.
SREvan says "color "
For all of the weight lost in her fragile, spine-y self Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) appears to have put on some furry weight. A good sixty or so pounds of it. She sniffs around the shrubs, nails leaving dagger like trails in the dirt and concrete alike.
Lark hears and whine and whirls over, spotting Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), and then Seamus thereafter. She waves, bounding over. "OH hey guys!! Thanks for showing up." She rubs the back of her head and laughs. "This is, uh, kinda all my fault but you're really doing me a solid so I appreciate you all!"
*Weh*.
A bob of Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s head like the wise teacher as she stops sniffing at dead shrubs.
"I wouldn't eat any of that if I were you," Lark cautions, wisely. "Not bamboo." So smart.
Seamus adjusts his molle vest and looks at his knives before nodding. "I am ready. I even have poison. if we need it."
Lark nods at Seamus. "Excellent."
The *CLACK* of Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s jaws, this time, clatters and pierce like a gunshot- the maw and slight nip of return to Lark's comment bitterly sentience of this comment.
The *CLACK* of Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s jaws, this time, clatters and pierce like a gunshot- the maw and slight nip of return to Lark's comment bitterly sentient of this fact.*
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), with a white side-eye, sniffles at a shrub to double check.
Lark sighs and shakes her head behind the panda's back.
Tucked into a forest, deep in the outskirts of Boston lies this courtyard. Looming over it in a sad way, lies a rickety mansion. One that's been entirely forgotten and left to the elements. Vines grow along the front in unkempt patterns, broken windows line the top, shattered glass spilling dangerously near the front door.
As the members of this expedition arrive in their various different ways, they'd get a feeling that they're not entirely alone.
"Hello," a voice calls from somewhere in the courtyard. And soon that voice makes himself known - stepping from his lean on the front wall of the mansion, a rather nicely dressed man crunches his away across the courtyard - not caring about the broken glass or the dead leaves that he destroys. "Miss Hall," the man says, staring directly at Lark with his cold, bright blue eyes. "You remember me, yes? We had a little chat one night. You were pretending to be Miss Fettes, if I recall correctly?" The man steps forward, stopping directly in front of the group - hands clasped behind his back, straight backed and perfect posture.
There's a sour look that crosses Lark's face as she sees the owner of the voice step into view. "Yes, I remember," she replies, a little sullen. "Well no more of that nonsense, and speaking of, the whole debts clear after this, right?" she checks, her face tense.
Evan steps a little close to Lark, resting a hand on her shoulder protectively, but letting her do the talking.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) rises to mirror his posture, all 6 feet of panda- claws clasped in front of herself like she's the extra on a hip-hop album cover.
Seamus looks lost but what else is new? He is here for comedic relief and hunting support but he does nod firmly at idea that all debts are paid after this
The panda barely even has this nameless man reacting, though he does a shift his eyes over that way, towards Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) and there's a twitch in his features, a smile of amusement breaking the earlier mask he wore. It's gone in a flash, and he's back entirely on Lark. "I talked to Mr. Fitz," the man explains to her. "If, and only if you succeed will all of your debts be cleared. There's.. something in this house, you see. An old scientist, an inventory, really. He was an interesting type. Paranoid, assumed everyone was out to get his latest, and greatest invention, you see?" Sweeping a hand out, he gestures grandly at the run down space. "Unfortunately, the poor soul was right. There were plenty of people out to get him. When you attempt what he attempted, you're going to make a few enemies - somewhere along the way." A step closer, leaning slightly in towards Lark, "Regardless, Mr. Fitz has assured him that everything you have, all your debts, will be paid upon retrieval of this object. You're done, you won't be bothered anymore. No more swords dangling over your head."
Lark looks both wary and relieved. She crosses her arms with the ragtag group consisting of an old guy, her boyfriend, and a giant panda behind her. "Do we know what kind of something we're looking for?" she asks, still cautious. She eyes the man, there clearly being no love lost here.
Seamus nods along, glancing at his phone as they listen along and mutters, "Right steal the shit, pay off Fritz, no more sword of Damocles. Got it."
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s eyes scan the decrepit space with dot-dot-dot of sentience, seemingly. An animal's stare does not oft warrant the gift of an intelligence, and the black and white stretch of fur is not any different.
It is an odd group, but at least Lark isn't alone. It's nice to have friends who can help when you, through basically no fault of your own, get yourself into a debt. Lark's more than likely not to blame, but, what can you do about it?
"Yes," the man replies, leaning away from her now - giving her back that space. "You," he points to Lark, and then sweeps the point to the rest of the ragtag group of friends, Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), Seamus and SREvan in turn. "Are going to find out where the power source is being kept, and then, you're going to come back here, and return it to me. Simple enough?" The last question seems arrogant, almost rude in the way he says it, like he's expecting all of them to fail miserably and come back with nothing at all. "I have no idea what it looks like, I'll be honest. But.. it should be somewhat easy to figure out, once you've located it, as far as I'm aware."
Lark huffs out in annoyance. "Well at least you're admitting you have no clue what it looks like," her jaw tenses and then she takes a step back, nodding to Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), Seamus, and Evan. "We ready? Any questions for this loan shark lackey?" she snipes.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) sighs glances at Lark in a dismissive fashion, setting her two front paws back on the ground and shaking out her fur.
Evan leaves his hand on Lark's shoulder as he stares at the man, but ultimately shakes his head. "I'm ready," Evan tells Lark carefully.
Seamus slides his hunting knife into his belt sheath and puts on some strawberry chapstick. "Let's rock and roll monster truckers."
Lark nods to the others and starts taking a few steps down that cobblestone path, with a dagger in her hand. For safekeeping. Duh. The cobblestones are loose, and badly maintained, but she keeps on in those fashionable ballet flats.
"Then, away you go," The man tells them - stepping away, shoes crunching dead leaves and shrubs as he walks off - waiting somewhere in the Courtyard. "I'll just be here," the man calls. "Bring it back here." And then he goes silent, leaving the ragtag group to figure it all out for themselves.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) ambles forward and after, starting at first in a strange slow-motion before her gait spikes and she gains traction- kicking up shrapnel that her claws chew through underneath.
Evan follows Lark carefully, leading her lead - and following along with her path.
Seamus needs someone to grab him on the path since he isn't special enough but assuming someone grabs him he follows.
Lark makes a busting down the door motion towards Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda).
Fortunately, the cobblestones don't seem trapped in any sort of way. No loose stones, no landmines, nothing of that sort to harm the group as they make their way to the front door of the mansion. The door seems thick, and reinforced and it does not seem to be bust openable. Besides, for all they know there was a trap. Nobody had thought to even ask anything about traps or anything of that. Busting open a door is probably not the smartest decision, but it's there, should they wish it.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) sighs haggardly, patting over to the double doors with a few testing scratches.
"I guess we could try turning the doorknob?" Lark suggests, logical hindsight being 20/20.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) sets her nose against the crack in the door and begins to sniff around.
"Yes try to see if it is unlocked first and then if it isn't I can try to pick it, and finally Panda Koolaid Man's the thing," Seamus says
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) settles herself against the door, and then.. Ambles off to the side. Over to the wall. With a powerful *Weh!* She does a brief loop and sprints full speed into the wall, clawing and chewing.
Lark hops back as she realizes that Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) is about to do panda things, trying to hide behind Seamus and Evan. "Make way!!"
"I'll do it," Evan volunteers. "Let me," Evan tells the group, stepping forward now. He takes the doorknob, fiddling with it - nope, there's no luck there. And soon someone so Evan leaps sideways out of the way.
"I'll do it," Evan volunteers. "Let me," Evan tells the group, stepping forward now. He takes the doorknob, fiddling with it - nope, there's no luck there. And soon Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) so Evan leaps sideways out of the way.
"Well there goes subtly," Seamus muses putting his lock picks back and just watching the ensuing chaos.
As Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) crashes into the door there's a looud *CRACK*. Something breaks, whether it's Siofra or the doorframe or the wall, it's hard to tell immediately. It's a god damn sturdy door, that's for sure, because the door hasn't fall-
CREEEEEEK the door just suddenly slams backward - falling off its hinges and a loud thud resonates through the air.
Almost instantly, there's a sound a *CLICK* as something goes off.
Nobody asked about traps.
Evan has gotten to his feet now, and moves to stand in the doorway, acting like he's the one who solved the problem - cocky little shit. It's unfortunate for him because a loud WOOOSH and something flies through the air, directly hitting Evan in the neck, and chest - darts.
"Should we have checked for traps?" Lark asks, about ten minutes too late. But the *CRACK* noise comes right at the end of her words and there's a look of obvious relief when the door gives way. She screams as Evan gets hit with the darts, springing forward to try to catch him before he hits the ground. "Noooooooo!"
Evan stands proudly in the doorway, "See? I could-"
Small, tiny sounds of something hitting flesh and Evan drops, fortunately being caught by Lark before his pretty head gets damaged. "Ow," Evan mutters, and he already seems tired, eyes drooping. "Tired.." Evan slurs.
"Probably but that is the Rogue's job," Seamus says citing the deep lore. "Oh boy. Well.... does anyone know anything about poisons? Probably just a sleeping poison."
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) reels back, stunned and sneezing from having her momentum halted absolutely. Mystical white and black bear or not, coming to a complete stop hurts. With the senses return, flushed of dust and fumes, she gives a searching glance back to the group to see a man down.
Lark slaps Evan gently on the cheeks, trying to keep him away. "Hey! Hey! No sleeping!" she calls out. The idea of poisons strikes a look of horror on her face. "Does anyone know anything about poisons?!" She looks between Seamus and Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), in panic. "Aren't we like supposed to... make them throw up or eat ashes or something?!"
Lark is trying to keep Evan AWAKE.
Evan blinks at the slapping, but just murmurs something about being tired and 'going to take a nap right here on the comfy ground'.
Seamus pulls out his phone and takes a picture before sending it somewhere before putting it away, "I mean if it is just a paralyzing poison he can probably sleep it off. Anyone have the dart?"
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) sniffles indignantly for some reason, then, with a shake and sass of her rump, heads inside.
Lark pulls one of the darts off of Evan, offering it to Seamus. "You're older and wiser, what is it?"
Lark pulls something out of her bag: a tragic 8 ball. She shakes it, asking: "Is Evan going to die?!"
Lark screams!
Seamus shakes his head at the poison, "We'll collect him on our way back home. Come on Lark, in and out and don't listen to the 8-Ball. It has only been right like... twice."
Lark nods, letting Evan down gently, making sure to pluck out those darts so he can sleep well. She sighs and puts the 8-ball away, gesturing for Seamus to come through the doorway with her. "I'm suing Malcolm over these balls," she decides, stepping her way through the threshold.
As the group now enters the house, with one less member to their party they'd find the area in a similar disarray to the outside. A staircase in the middle of the room has fallen apart, not allowing much access to the upper floors. Off to either side is a closed door, for different rooms.
Boxes are packed and stacked around the middle of the black and white marble floor. Though, they seem specifically pushed off to one side - near the northeast section of the foyer.
There's a shift now, almost like a slow, low pulsing that fills the house - the power source they're looking for. It's dark inside, the only light being from what trickles in through broken windows, and the now broken door.
PULSE.
Lark looks around, carefully, a bit more cautious now that her boyfriend is passed out in the other room. "Do you feel that?" she asks. "Should we look through these boxes over here," she points to the northeast. "Or keep going?"
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s fur stands on end, bristling and hackles raised. A wild eyed moment passes, the creature seemingly dead set on creating a corpse to fill its teeth.
But tentatively, finding no immediate threat, Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) sniffs around a few boxes- slapping them with a sidewinder paw strikes, scratching open the corners.
"I think we should keep going," Seamus realizes they he is the only one who can actually talk with Lark and then adds by way of explanation, "Go all the way in and work our way back out."
"That's what she said," Lark can't help but add before giving a more serious nod. "Okay. Are you any good at checking to see if either of these doors are boobytrapped? If so, maybe we try the one on the right to the east first?"
PULSE.
That light comes briefly again, spreading under the floor. Maybe.. wiring? Maybe pipes? It looks like it leads from a north-east corner of the foyer, but it's hard to discern. That light fills the room briefly, before fading away again.
If anyone is looking, for checking the floor - they might be able to spot little rises in the floor as that light spreads throughout the flooring. The floor isn't entirely level in certain places.
"I am told it was more of a breathy moan but I get your point," Seamus agrees seriously with Lark. "I'll take a look," Seamus adds before taking his knife to start gently prying around the gaps in the door looking for trip wires.""
As Seamus prods around the where the door has been left, destroyed and discarded by a strong panda, he'd find no trip wires, nothing directly in front of the door - or surrounding areas.
Lark follows that pulsing, frowning. She glances to that pile of boxes. "Panda, can you get rid of those? See if something's behind it?" She steps around the room carefully, trying to look for any strangeness.
Seamus turns the handle of the door and mimes turning the door handle and walks in, "All safe."
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) is slapping around the boxes with precocious steps, a little wide-legged as she over scrutinizes the small bumps of elevation on the wood underneath.
As the panda moves some of the boxes, it would uncover just the briefest - difference in the flooring. There's what looks to be a few scrape marks over a very specific tile - like something is lifted up here.
Seamus notices the scrape marks and asks Lark, "Those are sus as fuck as you kids say. Should we pry it up?"
Seamus must say no more. Setting her claws against the ground- somewhere abouts the corner, Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) begins to dig. 10/12 digits peeling at the wound, prying at the wood with animal habit.
Lark nods at Seamus and peers over as Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) begins to pry at the flooring. "I don't see why not. Sus is good for us, at least right now, right Tragic 8 Ball?" She digs it out of her tote bag again, giving it a shake.
Lark tells the 8-ball: "Fuck you, you're fired."
Seamus says "The eight ball is never wrong"
PULSE.
There it goes again - that eerie, familiar pulse that courses through the mansion like veins running through a person.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s claws are tough, and very bear-y and soon she's lifting a section, a corner and a low, grinding sound begins - a trapdoor becoming more visible - a passage beneath it.
Lark peeks over Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) to see the trapdoor. "Seamus, will you check this thing for traps before we try it? Seems like a basement is a good place to hide shit."
To everyone's disappointment, Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) takes a break and sits down with a pant with still a little floorboard to go. Work is tiring, and her stomach is empty of things to metabolize. A compound of factors hit the creature like the smell of gasoline in a locked cellar, and to her rump she goes.
Seamus nods to Lark and starts checking for traps
Lark reaches over to give Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) a shoulder pat.
Seamus holds very still and backs his hand out gently, "Well this has been trapped for sure." He squints at the panda then back to the trap, "Any thoughts?"
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) nods whilst panting with Lark's assessment of the solution
"We can try but I need a picture of you pulling the rope, for reasons," Seamus says with a smile.
There's one problem, Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) doesn't appear to have any rope on her.
There's a bunch of boxes scattered around the room, maybe there's rope in one of them?
"Alright let's just see if there's anything around," Lark says, turning her head and spying a nearby box.
Seamus starts looking for additional rope but it is very likely Seamus packed some, just didn't bring a rope item.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) looks at the slapped and scratched cubes, and levels the power of her agency against them- nose first.
As Lark opens up the first box, she'd get hit by dust and the scent of mildew and rust, though around her, near one of the other boxes is a stench of decay and death.
Inside the box are plenty of things, metal, gears, sheet of iron, bronze and a plenty of other, and tucked into the very bottom - in a coil is some rope. How handy!
Lark sneezes, making a face at the smell and grabs the coil of rope, tossing it to Seamus. "Catch old man!"
looks up to the ceiling, and, approaching a wall, attempts to climb. She gets a leg pressed forward and pushing before it simply scratches down. Rather like a cat stuck in the tub, to the danger of a tub. The arboreal loss is felt deeply in Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s whimper, claws too sharp to ascend.
Seamus catches the rope and ties it up to how it is supposed to go before throwing the end back to Lark. "Say Cheese. Hi Mal. Whateverzl"
Lark poses for Seamus before tugging on the rope, hard.
Seamus takes the photo, saving it for more fancy chat.
As Lark pulls the rope that's attached to the trapdoor - there's a loud whine. The hinges whining in protest.
CREEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK.
Lark continues, pulling, pulling, and pulling on that rope for what seems to be a while. Until, eventually, Lark would feel the slack on the rope, the door comes free with one more groan of protest before clattering away, and trailing behind on what might be a small tripwire, are some devices: which look very much like C4, or some other explosive.
Lark lets go of the rope, tossing it to the side, no doubt eliciting a little cloud of dust. She peers over at what's revealed and curses. "Well fuck. Uh... does anyone know how to handle that? Or should we make that blow from afar?"
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) looks at the little pink putty dumbfounded. Within her list of tools is not explosive bubble gum, and thus, thoughts are slow as to the contraption sat beyond. She stands on her hind legs at a distance to peer over, then slowly shakes her head.
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) patters over to the eastern door, bares her claws forward- and then tentatively tries to open the door between her fingers and thumb.
Lark adds hastily. "Maybe, uh, not the second option... You're right, whoever you are-"
"I'd usually just call bomb squad," Seamus says with a frown and then says, "We could shoot it."
It seems like the trap has been relatively disarmed, and anyone who would look down to the big hole that Lark just created by pulling off the door to a trapdoor, would notice a -
PULSE! There's that pulse again, most obvious, more noticeable. It briefly reveals a steel ladder that leads down into a dark, dark corridor below.
The reveal of that pulse reveals that steel ladder. Lark peers down the hatch hole and shrugs, beginning to angle herself to climb down. "Alright I guess I'll go first," she says, squinting into the darkness below.
Seamus nods and then makes to follow Lark before asking Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), "Unless you want me to take up the rear?"
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) turns around, braced for a bright pink boom. This, of course, doesn't occur, but she was prepared for it. Straightening her back- shrinking in stature- yet legs elongating a fleshformed circus act returns- no-no parts 'modestly' covered in glowing red spines. Her arms join to cover herself with a flat sigh, and onward she waggles her hand.
Lark calls out from climbing the ladder. "Phrasing!"
Siofra says "Mmm. I'll not climb down as a Panda. I'll g'wan second if it suits ye'."
Down, down and down they go. The only sound is the dull thump of shoes hitting the cold metal of the ladder.
The further they go, the stuffier it gets, and there's an almost oppressive feeling down here. The bottom of the ladder is pitchblack, for those who can't see in the dark, and when they hit the bottom there's a small hallway - carved out of the stone - and beyond is a massive room.
Here the ragtag group arrives into a massive room that looks to be a workshop of some sort.
Dead set in the middle of the room, is a massive creature - and right in the middle of the dark room is that familiar but ominous pulse.
Siofra regards the depths' silent guardian like spinach on the lunch table, lip curled. She's hunched in an introvert's posture down here, her own red muted light fighting and losing to the blue beyond. "That'un will feck me up. I don't reckon we could all climb faster than it could grab- I mean.. Mayhap it's just a statue."
"Well do you see the battery thing we are looking for? This is the workshop so we can grab it and get out of here? I am starting to get the creeps," Seamus says before adding to Siofra, "Beth is babysitting Cadence."
Siofra points to the blue object in the center of the room. "Mhm."
Lark looks around, gawks really, whispering to Seamus and Siofra. "Oh my god, it's like a sex dungeon, with scien-" she stops as she sees that massive creature. "Uhhhh, guys??"
"Well it's chained so far, Lark." Siofra explains with a tightening of her spines around her. One, like a vein coming out of her wrist, whips delicately towards the creature. "Just like.. I'm poxy right now, alright? Might that I could take it but like.. Ehh..."
Siofra says, flatly, "Speak of me to my sons and tell them I saw the sunrise."
Lark carefully starts to creep towards that creature, trying to look around for anything of note that may stand out, other than the fact that this gigantic creature is here.
The large machine might be alive, or it might not be, it's really hard to tell. This large machine looks to have been designed by someone doing some insane experiments. It's an amalgamation of parts. It's broad, and brutal looking, the form crudely humanoid and welded together from iron, brass, and human bones. The torso is a patchwork of welded plates, and sinew-like tubing that pulses with a sickly pale green light - directly set in the center, covered by a glass cage is what looks to be the heart, or the core of the thing. The beast has thick arms that end in rusted claws, and it moves with a surprising quickness for the bulk of it.
Soon though, there's a groan from the beast - a shifting. A new source of light is added to that blue pulsing and it comes in the form of two blue dots that look to be about where the creature rests.
It's head goes up - scanning, searching. And it locks onto the three intruders.
Seamus readies his knife, just in case and then says, "Lark.... you are the track star.... gonna need you to get what you came here for before we have a problem."
Lark freezes. The kind of freeze that signals 'Oh shit!'. Her head swivels and nods at Seamus. "But like what... am I grabbing?" she asks, "Because it looks like that heart might be... what's batterying this?"
As the group talks the machine grows angerier, it rattles against its chains, pulling at them. Again, there's a loud, loud creak - the chains barely able to hold the massive automation in front of them.
*WEH-EH-EH-EH-E-H-EH-* Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) bleats back, hackles raised in a snarl as she steps forward. The slow, languid heartrate in her chest beating like a kick drum and speeding up. The tempo dilates her pupils into three black saucers. The demonic panda pads forward, at first slowly, and then charging.
Lark scrambles to grab her bow from her tote bag, notching an arrow in case of emergency. An emergency that might be imminent?
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) charges forward at the beast with almost zero hesitation, which is smart, but also not smart. It might anger the creature, if it actually had emotions. It's head snaps towards the panda, blue eyes locking onto the incoming target. It's slow, fortunately, and it is chained down. Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) leaps, and jumps getting onto one of the legs, where she'll have to deal with the iron, brass and human bone.
Seamus slips his knife away and grabs his bow too, following Lark's lead, preparing a hunting arrow if need be.
Lark aims for the creature, for an eye, if she can, and loosens an arrow at it.
It might be a little like a viscous badger caught on an elephant, Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) making insane, distressing screeching noises as she bites into metal and death shakes with her neck- the force of her bones barely contained within the fur that houses them. The ripples of muscle send waves through her body, and that motions bleats back into feedback loop of her growls.
The creature pulls, twists and then rips a chain off the wall. A loud, loud crunch as it completely pulls the socket out of the wall - freeing one very deadly arm. It swipes at Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), slowly with the rusted claw of its hand.
Lark's arrow hits metal, unfortunately clattering harmlessly away to the ground.
Seamus takes after Lark and starts to shoot at the creatures' eyes as well.
Seeing how useless the arrow is, Lark shrugs, grabs her sword and rushes the automaton after Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), brandishing it with a growl. "GAHHHH!"
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) watches the hand come out of the corner of her eye like a dog that's got a toy it's not willing to share. Rather than brace, she scrambles tooth and nail up the panels and begins to claw at the housing for its heart.
That clawed hand misses Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) by the little scruff of her tail, just barely hitting her. Lark and Seamus are a good distraction, apparently - because the eyes of the machine shift from Lark to Seamus in a threatening way. It pulls at it's other arm, the chains holding it, just briefly. This seems like a fight that should be ended quick, otherwise there might be more problems.
Seamus's arrow, unfortunately doesn't do much, like Lark's. It ricochets harmlessly off the metal that protects its form.
As Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) beings to claw at the housing, she'd find this part is less defended. It's surrounded by a glass cage, not metal. It's easy to break.
Lark continues to try to distract the creature while Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) aims for the heart: for the very precious battery that means freedom and more for Lark
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s swats the glass like a cat toy as her white, fluffy tail gets smacked by a automaton's crane arm, probably showering herself in glass. But alas- even if she could get within, she's a damned panda.
But she's MORE as well! Six red ribbons shooting out from her form, the sharp pincers wedge into the metal, and with a huff and a mewling cringe, she tries to shunt herself through the glass and to the blue glow!
Glass rains down as it cracks, and then finally breaks, and Siofra begins to squeeze herself inside the housing. The heartbeat of the machine beating a sickly blue, pulsing. She'd have to pry it out of it's wiring, hoping she doesn't manage to break it. The acrobatics work though, and she manages to get to that blue glow.
It seems like whoever designed this machine, didn't think too hard on the safety protocols, because Lark is the focus - not the creature that's trying to shove it's way to the heart. A large hand comes slamming at Lark, missing, once again by the barest inches - she might even feel the wind of it blow across her face.
Seamus in the back provides an added distraction, arrows hitting against it - and one manages to embed itself in its eye - that blue light splitting around the arrowshaft.
Lark lets out a screech as she's almost hit, but not quite. It only seems to make her madder, as she sees someone crawling to get the wiring. She charges again, that sword swinging with a growl like the stubborn young demigod she is. Hard heads, these ones.
Lark lets out a screech as she's almost hit, but not quite. It only seems to make her madder, as she sees her friend crawling to get the wiring. She charges again, that sword swinging with a growl like the stubborn young demigod she is. Hard heads, these ones.
Sickened, robbed of her knightly gifts, and exhausted as she suffers the low of her biokinetic high, Siofra wrenches both hands alongside the housing of the big blue- making a little color purple of scattered light between her and it. It's enough energy to hold one, and and as Siofra gasps and yanks at her arm, the problem of her new strength becomes known.
But the Lead Keeper tries, because the workday doesn't end until you've done your work- and luck's sake, it's a fecking Saturday. With a whimper, and a brace of pain, all six spines curl out the housing from the inside and yank with all of her tiny force.
Whatever Siofra does, works. There's a crackle of blue energy that begins to leak out, the machine realizing too late what's going on.
CRANNKKKKK, GROAN. The thing beats, pulses getting faster, more determined.
Lark's distraction isn't working, the creature completely shifts, completely ignores Lark and brings a hand to it's chest, like it's about to slam and pound whatever it is that's tugging at it's heart.
POP!
The heart comes out, and the machine shuts down, inches from crushing Siofra inside. Despite it all though, she's tired. She pulls, tugs, and then finally falls from the machine - a scraping herself along one of those rusty claws as she tumbles to the floor - heart in her hands.
Lark rushes over to Siofra. "FUCK YEAH!!!" She yells, covered with sweat.
Using her spines and fashionable, extending veins as tension cables has rather fucked Siofra up. Heart cradled and broken on the ground in a nude, monstrous heap, she pries her hands off the side of the big blue and allows the object to roll (or perhaps simply fall) along the ground. "Ehhh... F-fair play.."
Lark looks to Siofra first, crouching down. "You alright?? Fuck, I can't find you virgins, but I swear to god, I'm gonna throw so many happy meals at you for that."
The room goes dull, that eerie feeling fades - all is calm. The heart is collected and the machine beat - with relatively no big injures.
"Nouught even onnnne?" Siofra grumbles, slapping a hand to the concrete and shivering as the small movement of setting herself up bends an overextended ribbon o'red.
Lark scoops up the heart, carefully, cradling it against her body. "Alright you two, let's go! Back up and out!"
And out the trio goes, back up the ladder, past the foyer, and into that overgrown garden, where Evan still lies asleep.
Lark looks around for the original guy, trotting over with the heart clutched to her chest. "We got it, asshole!"
"Ah," a voice calls as soon as Lark yells for him. Maybe his name is asshole, or maybe he's been called it enough, regardless he steps over and close to Lark - inspecting it. "I knew you'd do it," the man replies coldly, reaching out a gloved hand to touch the heart. "Did you have any troubles?"
Siofra is behind. Somewhere abouts the top of the ladder, it was time to return to panda. Panda is the one with all of the tricks- though it did not come before a shriek as her hyperextended extra muscles were lengthened out into a panda's body.
Evan stirs from his slumber, eyes glossy a bit and he's dazed, "Wha-" Evan says, sitting up a bit as Lark yells.
"My boyfriend might be dead so you better have a good insurance," Lark tells the man.
Seamus lingers back with Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda) and just hangs out, panting as he catches his breath from the fight. "He's not dead yet!"
Lark gasps, shoving the heart at the man and running to hug Evan. "You're alive!"
The man takes the heart that was shoved at him with a smirk, glancing towards SREvan and Lark, and the rest. "Miss Hall?" The man calls out, delicately holding onto the heart.
Lark turns back to the man. "Yes?"
Evan blinks again, rubbing at his eyes. "Yeah, I'm alive.." Evan mutters, though shuts up when the man addresses Lark.
"I'll be sure to tell Mr. Fitz that your debt is repaid," the man says smoothly, taking a step back. "You're done. You're free. This is it." Another step back. "Enjoy the rest of your life, Miss Hall." And with that, the man heads off, disappearing into the night.
Lark lets out a sigh of relief, hugging Evan again and telling Seamus and Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda). "Thank you!" To Seamus, she asks: "Can you help find a virgin for Panda?"
Seamus cheers silently when the debts are paid then turns back to Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda), "What do you need a virgin for? But sure."
Siofra(Ailuropoda melanoleuca, or Giant Panda)'s teeth *CHOMP*. Nothing good, probably.